Bosch Flow App Update Aims To Make Stolen Electric Bikes Far Harder To Resell
With the rate of electric bike theft in the UK continuing to rise, Bosch has unveiled a Smart System update designed to make stealing, and reselling, electric bikes far more difficult.
Rolling out via the Bosch Flow app from the end of January, the update allows registered owners to mark their eBike as stolen in just a few steps. Once activated, the stolen status cannot be removed without the intervention of the registered owner, adding a crucial layer of protection.
What Changes With The Update
Each Bosch component within the Smart System has a unique digital registration, securely linked to the owner’s Bosch account. If a bike is marked as stolen, only the registered owner has the authority to remove the stolen marker. Even if the bike changes hands, its stolen status remains visible.
Owner-Controlled Stolen Status
Once a bike is flagged as stolen, the status cannot be removed without the registered owner’s involvement.
Clear Warnings In The Flow App
Anyone attempting to connect to a stolen electric bike via the Flow app will see a stolen warning straight away.
Flow App Features Are Blocked
While connected to a stolen bike, access to Flow app features becomes blocked, making the bike less usable.
Dealer Tools Can Flag Stolen Bikes
Specialist dealers can receive a warning through Bosch diagnostic tools if the bike is brought in for service.
Why this matters: Most electric bike theft is driven by resale value. Making stolen status obvious and
difficult to remove reduces the likelihood of a thief being able to profit.
How It Works In Practice
If a bike is marked as stolen, anyone trying to connect to it using the Bosch Flow app will be alerted to its status. The warning applies to both the bike and its registered components.
- Register the eBike Components are linked to the owner’s Bosch account.
- Mark as stolen The stolen status is activated in the Flow app.
- Warnings appear Stolen alerts and app restrictions are triggered.
- Dealer alerts Diagnostic tools can flag stolen bikes during servicing.
Protect Your Electric Bike Properly
Digital protection is most effective when paired with high-quality locks and good everyday security habits.
